Latest news with #LASevens
RNZ News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 2 May
Firisua competed in the 100 metres sprint at the Paris Olympics. Photo: NOCSI Two Fijian Drua players, earlier stood down because of domestic violence allegations, remain employees of the franchise. Iosefo Masi and Peni Matawalu were taken off the team's match-day lists in the last three weeks. The Fijian Drua said in a statement on Thursday afternoon, it has concluded its investigation into both incidents, and both players remain club employees. The club will not make any further statements, as both cases are going through legal processes. The PNG Hunters have set their sights on getting a second consecutive win at home in round eight of the Hostplus Cup rugby league competition. The Hunters will host the Manly Seagulls on Sunday at the Santos National Football Stadium. Last weekend they beat the Burleigh Bears 22-14. Head coach Paul Aiton has given prop Jacob Lot a chance to debut for the side, in one of the changes he has made to his lineup. The Hunters are currently sitting at sixth spot in the competition after three wins so far, while the Seagulls are three spots ahead of them. Los Angeles is set to host an exciting climax to the international sevens season when the LA Sevens kicks off on Sunday morning NZ time. The top eight men's and women's teams compete in the sevens World Championship, and there is also a playoff for promotion and relegation. The two Fijian men and women's teams are in the main competition, while Samoa's men's team will be playing to win promotion into the main series for next season. Athletics Vanuatu says they still need a lot of money to be able to send 24 athletes to the Pacific Mini Games in Palau, which starts at the end of June. The Vanuatu Dailly Post reported the athletics team needs 1.2 million vatu - around US$10,000. Secretary General David Benjamin said they have not been able to secure any funding, and are reliant on government stepping in at the moment. Solomon Islands' long-distance runner Sharon Firisua has officially announced her retirement from competitive athletics. SIBC reported Firisua has switched to coaching. Firisua said it is time for her to give back to the sport that had given her so much. She has recently been in Melbourne to earn two coaching certificates in athletics. Tahiti's beach football team will meet Chile in their opening match at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Seychelles, on Friday night New Zealand time. The Oceania champions are in group C alongside Chile, Senegal, and Spain. Tahiti has previously finished as World Cup runners-up, when the Tiki Toa finished second at the 2015 and 2017 tournaments. They meet Senegal on Sunday night and Spain in their last match next Tuesday night.
CNA
01-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Tui left out of Black Ferns squad for Pacific Four Series
Winger Ruby Tui has been left out of the Black Ferns squad for this month's Pacific Four Series, a key part of New Zealand's preparations for their Women's World Cup title defence in England later this year. Tui, who scored five tries to help New Zealand retain the World Cup in 2022, looks to have lost out to Portia Woodman-Wickliffe after the twice World Player of the Year came out of retirement last month. World Cup-winning fullback Renee Holmes and lock Chelsea Bremner also missed out on the 33-woman squad to play Australia, Canada and the United States on successive weekends from May 10. "It's a tight race leading up to our World Cup campaign and we know we've had to make tough calls at this point," coach Allan Bunting said in a news release. "I've been very impressed by the response and attitude from our players to still serve the team. Our whole group is important on this journey, there is still a bit more water to go under the bridge before we name our World Cup squad." Fullback Braxton Sorensen-McGee, 18, was one of three uncapped players in the squad along with powerhouse prop Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu and hooker Vici-Rose Green. Sevens players Theresa Setefano, Dhys Faleafaga, Jorja Miller, Stacey Waaka and Risaleaana Pouri-Lane have also been called up but the latter three will not be available for the Australia test because of the LA Sevens tournament. "It's not just about the squad of 33, this is about building a solid group of 40 plus who will be clear on how we want to be, and play come World Cup selection time," Bunting added. New Zealand are currently ranked third in the world behind the English and Canadians and face a stiff challenge to win the World Cup for a seventh time in August and September.
Reuters
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Tui left out of Black Ferns squad for Pacific Four Series
May 1 (Reuters) - Winger Ruby Tui has been left out of the Black Ferns squad for this month's Pacific Four Series, a key part of New Zealand's preparations for their Women's World Cup title defence in England later this year. Tui, who scored five tries to help New Zealand retain the World Cup in 2022, looks to have lost out to Portia Woodman-Wickliffe after the twice World Player of the Year came out of retirement last month. World Cup-winning fullback Renee Holmes and lock Chelsea Bremner also missed out on the 33-woman squad to play Australia, Canada and the United States on successive weekends from May 10. "It's a tight race leading up to our World Cup campaign and we know we've had to make tough calls at this point," coach Allan Bunting said in a news release. "I've been very impressed by the response and attitude from our players to still serve the team. Our whole group is important on this journey, there is still a bit more water to go under the bridge before we name our World Cup squad." Fullback Braxton Sorensen-McGee, 18, was one of three uncapped players in the squad along with powerhouse prop Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu and hooker Vici-Rose Green. Sevens players Theresa Setefano, Dhys Faleafaga, Jorja Miller, Stacey Waaka and Risaleaana Pouri-Lane have also been called up but the latter three will not be available for the Australia test because of the LA Sevens tournament. "It's not just about the squad of 33, this is about building a solid group of 40 plus who will be clear on how we want to be, and play come World Cup selection time," Bunting added. New Zealand are currently ranked third in the world behind the English and Canadians and face a stiff challenge to win the World Cup for a seventh time in August and September.
The Age
24-04-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘Set up to fail': Levi's World Cup bid in jeopardy as agent raises issue of ‘animosity' among players
The plan was for Levi, arguably the best sevens player in the world, to play some XVs rugby for the Queensland Reds earlier this year, but that fell through when she broke her hand in January. The 22-year-old is contracted with the Australian sevens team and will play for them in the LA Sevens tournament early next month. From there, the expectation has been that Levi will come into Wallaroos camp and push for selection. Levi could have made herself available for the Wallaroos' opening Test next month by skipping the final sevens event of the season. Whether she will commit to XVs remains unclear. Her inclusion would bolster the Wallaroos' chances of making their first World Cup final. Australia have only made one semi-final from seven World Cup appearances. However, if Levi was picked for Australia without playing a single XVs match, it might not go down well with her new teammates. Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp said on Tuesday she did not believe the inclusion of high-profile sevens players – such as Levi, Charlotte Caslick and Tia Hinds – would create tension in camp with regular XVs players vying for World Cup spots. However, Rogers has hinted at existing friction, revealing there had already been issues during Super W involving sevens players. Levi and her sister Teagan were both signed to the Reds, though only Teagan played – in just one match. 'I just think we should let the sevens girls do what they do, and the 15s [do what they do], then right before the World Cup just say to all sevens girls, yeah, you can go and play in the 15s and see if it doesn't create any animosity between the players. Because that's what's happened this year, and it wasn't pretty,' Rogers said. 'I'm being facetious there, but it's been unfair on the sevens girls and unfair on the XVs girls. 'I just know as a player, if I'm busting my butt in the XVs team, and all of a sudden you get these seven or eight girls go, oh, I want to play XVs … I would have been absolutely filthy.' After the Fiji fixture early next month, the Wallaroos have three more Tests in May against New Zealand, the US and Canada. Levi could feasibly play in three Tests for Australia before the World Cup begins on August 23, but the likelihood of that appears to be fading by the day. Loading 'Ultimately, we want to make sure we're setting Maddi up for success,' Yapp said this week. 'Bringing her straight in to play a Test match without any real XVs exposure or experience … wouldn't be fair on her. If we're bringing her in, we need to give her opportunities to train with the group first. 'We know that we've got a strong back line that has been performing well. When you look at Maya [Stewart], Desi [Desiree Miller], G Fred [Georgina Friedrichs] and C Smith [Cecilia Smith] ... they're strong players for us. What it does is allow us to create some depth in areas that we've not had.'
Sydney Morning Herald
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Set up to fail': Levi's World Cup bid in jeopardy as agent raises issue of ‘animosity' among players
The plan was for Levi, arguably the best sevens player in the world, to play some XVs rugby for the Queensland Reds earlier this year, but that fell through when she broke her hand in January. The 22-year-old is contracted with the Australian sevens team and will play for them in the LA Sevens tournament early next month. From there, the expectation has been that Levi will come into Wallaroos camp and push for selection. Levi could have made herself available for the Wallaroos' opening Test next month by skipping the final sevens event of the season. Whether she will commit to XVs remains unclear. Her inclusion would bolster the Wallaroos' chances of making their first World Cup final. Australia have only made one semi-final from seven World Cup appearances. However, if Levi was picked for Australia without playing a single XVs match, it might not go down well with her new teammates. Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp said on Tuesday she did not believe the inclusion of high-profile sevens players – such as Levi, Charlotte Caslick and Tia Hinds – would create tension in camp with regular XVs players vying for World Cup spots. However, Rogers has hinted at existing friction, revealing there had already been issues during Super W involving sevens players. Levi and her sister Teagan were both signed to the Reds, though only Teagan played – in just one match. 'I just think we should let the sevens girls do what they do, and the 15s [do what they do], then right before the World Cup just say to all sevens girls, yeah, you can go and play in the 15s and see if it doesn't create any animosity between the players. Because that's what's happened this year, and it wasn't pretty,' Rogers said. 'I'm being facetious there, but it's been unfair on the sevens girls and unfair on the XVs girls. 'I just know as a player, if I'm busting my butt in the XVs team, and all of a sudden you get these seven or eight girls go, oh, I want to play XVs … I would have been absolutely filthy.' After the Fiji fixture early next month, the Wallaroos have three more Tests in May against New Zealand, the US and Canada. Levi could feasibly play in three Tests for Australia before the World Cup begins on August 23, but the likelihood of that appears to be fading by the day. Loading 'Ultimately, we want to make sure we're setting Maddi up for success,' Yapp said this week. 'Bringing her straight in to play a Test match without any real XVs exposure or experience … wouldn't be fair on her. If we're bringing her in, we need to give her opportunities to train with the group first. 'We know that we've got a strong back line that has been performing well. When you look at Maya [Stewart], Desi [Desiree Miller], G Fred [Georgina Friedrichs] and C Smith [Cecilia Smith] ... they're strong players for us. What it does is allow us to create some depth in areas that we've not had.'
